December 11 – Spain will head into 2026 exactly where they hoped to be: on top. December’s FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings update confirms La Roja’s position at the head of the table, with their successful defence of the UEFA Women’s Nations League title tightening their grip on the summit after reclaiming it in August.
Spain will maintain their lead in both the men’s and women’s rankings as their dominance transcends both genders.
The biggest movement among the top sides comes just below them. Germany jumped two places to third after reaching the Nations League final, whilst USA sit steady in second – their mixed autumn, highlighted by two wins over Italy but tempered by an earlier loss to Portugal, leaving them unchanged.
The rest of the top 10 reflects a busy period of qualifiers and knockout football. Sweden slipped two places to fifth following their semi-final defeat to Spain in the Nations League, with France (now 7th) and Canada (10th) also edging backwards.
Moving the other way, Brazil rise to sixth as preparations intensify ahead of hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup, while Korea DPR continue their steady climb into ninth. European champions England, unchanged, remain in fourth.
Elsewhere, there is significant movement across the board. Nicaragua (96th), Burkina Faso (118th) and American Samoa (137th) all leaped up 16 places, with American Samoa registering the biggest points gain of any nation after victories over the Cook Islands and Tonga.
Paraguay fell five places to 46th – the sharpest drop within the top 50 – while Mali (85th), Egypt (101st), India (67th), Cameroon (70th) and the Solomon Islands (77th) all slide.
There is also a historic milestone. Chad and Libya appeared in the ranking for the first time after taking part in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series, pushing the table to a record 198 ranked nations – another sign of the sport’s rapid globalisation.
Poland (24th), Venezuela (42nd), Cabo Verde (119th) and Saudi Arabia (161st) all reach new highs to close the year, rounding off one of the most active and wide-ranging ranking updates the women’s game has seen.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1765451170labto1765451170ofdlr1765451170owedi1765451170sni@g1765451170niwe.1765451170yrrah1765451170
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